Virat Kohli has suffered a hamstring injury and has reportedly been ruled out of India's upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, according to a PTI report, dealing a significant blow to the team ahead of a series that was set to kickstart preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Virat Kohli won't be part of the Afghanistan ODI series (AFP)
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The former India captain was expected to return to international cricket following the conclusion of IPL 2026, but the injury has now delayed those plans.
He played a match-winning half-century knock in the IPL 2026 final last Sunday in Ahmedabad against the Gujarat Titans to help the Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift their second consecutive IPL title. Known for his unmatched fitness even at 37, he was in stellar form throughout the tournament. He capped off the season with 675 runs in 16 innings at 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84. He was RCB's highest run-getter in the tournament and the fourth overall.
"He is out of the ODI series due to a hamstring injury," a BCCI source told the news agency.
The three-match ODI series will begin on June 13 in Dharamsala. Kohli's absence will take the sheen off the upcoming series.
At a time when his future in international cricket was being discussed even in the corridors of the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, following his retirement from T20Is and Tests, Kohli responded in the best way possible. He finished as the leading run-scorer in his cherished 50-over format in 2025, amassing 651 runs in 13 innings at an average of 65.10 and a strike rate of 96.15. The tally included four centuries, three half-centuries, a victorious ICC Champions Trophy campaign, a Player of the Series award against South Africa, and a return to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings for the first time in four years.
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Despite those achievements, the selectors and team management stopped short of declaring that Kohli had cemented his place in India's plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Determined to reaffirm his commitment to the format, he turned up in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season, scoring 208 runs in just two matches. That included a 131 off 101 balls against Andhra and a half-century against Gujarat. The performances also saw him surpass Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest batter to 16,000 List A runs.
It remains to be seen if Rohit Sharma will be available for the entire contest against Afghanistan. His availability, as clarified by chief selector Ajit Agarkar at the time of the squad announcement, is subject to fitness after a hamstring injury affected his IPL appearances.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/Virat Kohli's return to India duty hit by major setback as injury rules him out of Afghanistan ODIs: Report
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